Players whose cards should be a bigger deal than they seem to be

[Jason19th]

Larry Doby and Monte Irvin were truly great players who seem to get less attentionbecause they were able to play a portion of their Careers in the majors. Both were the equals of players like Cool Papa Bell and Buck Lenard for their Negro League time and both actually had short but dramatic major league time. I think in some ways the major league time makes them lose some of the mythology that surrounds the players who never got a chance. People saw them, but only for the late prime and decline phases of their careers

Both in the Hall but you can get there early cards for almost nothing. Just picked up lower grade 1952 topps of them for about 15 dollars each

[drcy]

I'd agree that Mays cards are underrated price-wise. Though prices reflect less than "objective" things such as team.

[bnorth]

Eddie Mathews. His Rookie is a high # 1952 Topps that is also the last card of the set. Making it fairly rare compared to rookies of other HOFers from the 50's. When he retired he was considered the best 3rd baseman to ever play and is still easily top 3 or 4.

Hank Aaron cards are also cheap when he had arguably the best career of anyone to play the game.

[Peter_Spaeth]

I say it every time this comes up. Warren Spahn. Look it up.

[bounce]

Tris Speaker was pretty good, but his name is down the list of baseball greats in most conversations.

[ALBB]

not baseball,...but the all time Hockey great- Gordie Howe..you would think the Babe Ruth of hockey might be higher valued...and that 54 T Howe is not a commonly seen set

[mechanicalman]

Al Simmons could rake, yet I’ve never seen a “Show Your Al Simmons” thread.

[Jason19th]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

I say it every time this comes up. Warren Spahn. Look it up.

I think Spahn is an interesting case but he everything going against him for card value
1. Played in small market
2. Funny looking guy who was known as a jokester
3. Level of consistency that lulls you into thinking it’s no big deal what he is doing
4. Played on teams where he was overshadowed by others - Mathews and Aaron
5. Kept playing for so long that a lot of collectors memory of him might be as an old man losing with the giants

My favorite Warren Spahn stat - from Bill James - until 1985 Warren Spahn had more twenty win seasons as a lefty 13 the all of the New York Yankee lefties for the entire existence of the Franchise

[Peter_Spaeth]

At age 42, Spahn was 23-7 2.60.

[perezfan]

I've always felt that Stan Musial Cards are undervalued. One of the all-time greats, yet most of his cards are very affordable. May have been different, had he played in New York.

Also agree with Spahnie.

[Jason19th]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

At age 42, Spahn was 23-7 2.60.

While that it is true - I was referring to his age 43 and 44 season where he went 13-29 with a 4.74 era

[triwak]

Originally Posted by Jason19th

Larry Doby and Monte Irvin were truly great players who seem to get less attentionbecause they were able to play a portion of their Careers in the majors. Both were the equals of players like Cool Papa Bell and Buck Lenard for their Negro League time and both actually had short but dramatic major league time. I think in some ways the major league time makes them lose some of the mythology that surrounds the players who never got a chance. People saw them, but only for the late prime and decline phases of their careers

Both in the Hall but you can get there early cards for almost nothing. Just picked up lower grade 1952 topps of them for about 15 dollars each

+1

[Leon]

Referring to prewar cards, I am biased, and still think Cy Young it underrated in value relative to the other top tier HOF'ers. No doubt that unless the rules change back to the way they were a hundred years ago, and things completely change, he will hold the career wins record for eternity.

[Bigdaddy]

Originally Posted by Leon

Referring to prewar cards, I am biased, and still think Cy Young it underrated in value relative to the other top tier HOF'ers. No doubt that unless the rules change back to the way they were a hundred years ago, and things completely change, he will hold the career wins record for eternity.

Wasn't he named after that award? Strange coincidence.

[nat]

I'll nominate Eddie Collins. His career was comparable to Nap Lajoie's, but Nap was flashier. Nap won batting titles and slugging titles, whereas Collins was really the quintessential dead ball player. He hit singles, drew walks, and stole bases. But in sum their careers were pretty similar. (Collins actually beats Lajoie in WAR, 124 to 107.) But Collins' cards can't keep up with Nap's.

[Peter_Spaeth]

What I always found interesting about Collins and Cobb, both of whom played not only throughout the dead ball era but also for most of the 1920s, is that their stats stayed very consistent through both eras despite the supposed major change.